New Bedford police release names of shooting victims

NEW BEDFORD — Police have released the names of the two victims from a shooting early Saturday — the fifth since last month — and described it as gang-related.

By CURT BROWN

NEW BEDFORD — Police have released the names of the two victims from a shooting early Saturday — the fifth since last month — and described it as gang-related.

Detective Capt. Steven Vicente said Jordan Jorge, 22, was shot in the cheek, while Michael Pina, 44, was shot in the hip and the opposite leg and the back.

Vicente said the double shooting is "gang-related," and described Jorge as a Latin King member.

The shootings occurred about 3:30 a.m. Saturday at the corner of Coggeshall Street and Acushnet Avenue. Nine shell casings were found — six outside near the Golden Greek Restaurant and three in a parking lot across the street, according to Vicente.

He said both victims are expected to survive. Jorge has been released from the hospital, while Pina is in stable condition at Rhode Island Hospital, he said.

A Rhode Island Hospital spokeswoman said Monday night that there was no information about either patient.

Vicente said police are uncertain whether the victims were together, although there is no known connection. Police believe that the victims and the shooters were on foot when the incident happened.

No arrests have been made and neither victim is cooperating with police, he said.